Herdling

It's a heartwarming joy to get to know each of the calicorns I found on my journey to the mountain, and it's because of the loving bonds I'd formed with each of them that its central gameplay mechanic works so well, both in my hands and in my heart.

A short game that is absolutely brilliant.

Short, sweet, and utterly charming, Herdling's evocative beauty more than makes up for its superficial gameplay.

A powerful, memorable story told not with dialogue but with interaction, movement, and art.

Herdling is a great experience for any players who enjoyed the two Far titles created by Okomotive. When the Calicorns stampede across a lush meadow, plowing through flowers, with the mountains close, as the music enhances immersion, the game manages to create some unique and emotional moments. Guiding the herd around through puzzles is also pretty fun. But I never cared about the Calicorns, even as I made sure that they were healthy, and the title’s limited narrative means it’s hard to engage with its mechanics. Herdling has a solid core idea and creates impressive moments, but struggles to make the moment-to-moment gameplay engaging.

Herdling is a fairly linear game that wraps up in about six hours. Despite its relatively short playtime, Herdling does a decent job at capturing the unspoken bond that forms between a herder and their animals, while showcasing the many facets that come with the role. Although Herdling could certainly stand to be longer, artificial length may not necessarily improve the game. As much as I would have liked more time with my loyal companions, the length is appropriate for the type of story Herdling is trying to tell, and its brevity doesn’t diminish the journey it offers. This is an adventure that will tug at your heartstrings, while leaving you with a handful of bittersweet memories and screenshots to hold on to. If you are willing to spend an afternoon opening yourself to a moving story told through guiding gestures and the steady rumble of hooves, it would behoove you to give Herdling a go.

Herdling continues Okamotive's reputation for unorthodox titles that resonate in unique ways. Desolate and survival-driven, yet warm and freeing, it's an adventure unlike any other despite the occasional hiccups.

A bitesize indie adventure guiding a herd of fictional creatures back to their home atop a mountain, Herdling has charm in spades, and a wonderful minimal design that prioritises experience over everything.

In the herd that follows my hand, I find the calm beauty of endless fields stretched before us.

Suddenly, your herd is let off the leash. As you witness a train rattling along a nearby track, it's hard to resist the urge to race it. [Issue#415, p.100]

Herdling is a captivating, albeit flawed experience that never has any low points, but never hits any genuine highs either.

The idea of guiding a herd of supernatural creatures to their place of life was fascinating on paper. If the studio does a good job of building its universe and making these critters endearing, the conventional gameplay offered in the name of a calm and contemplative atmosphere makes the game in the end a little boring, and it would have gained much more by making us experience more situations of danger for our beasts, which we will stroll on autopilot for a large part of the time.

Charming adventure that's a little too similar to Journey and somewhat lacking in depth - but unique in how it has you herding fantastical beasts on a wordless trip into the mountains.